Chapter 143: A Small Test of Skill

"Ahem..."

Zhao Xu coughed lightly to cover his embarrassment.

During the war against the Northern Di, Tianxiang Lou had been under constant surveillance.

This made his distrust of Tianxiang Lou clear.

And after the news of his assassination and death spread, Xu E had come to the Prince's Mansion, reportedly weeping very sorrowfully.

But given the situation at the time, Feng'er had no choice but to block her.

Later, when Yancheng returned to tranquility, Tianxiang Lou resumed business.

Xu E did not come out to play the zither or sing songs again, claiming she was ill.

"Your Highness has made this slave suffer so bitterly." Xu E shot Zhao Xu another glance, full of charm and coquetry.

Zhao Xu sighed: "I never expected Miss Xu to be so heartbroken that she fell ill, but what virtue or ability do I possess to make Miss Xu pin her heart on me?"

"Does Your Highness still remember the dying young girl you saved eight years ago?" At this moment, Huan'er said in a crisp voice.

"Eight years ago?" Zhao Xu searched his memory.

Xu E just looked at him quietly.

"I remember now." Zhao Xu found a scene.

In the scene, a young girl lay on the side of the road in winter, and it was the Ninth Prince at the time who gave her a bowl of hot porridge to drink.

He examined Xu E's face closely; it really did bear some resemblance to that young girl from back then.

"You are her?" Zhao Xu asked in surprise.

"Yes, all these years I have never forgotten Your Highness's life-saving grace, so after arriving in Yan Commandery, I took action to help Your Highness." Having finally spoken a secret from her heart, she seemed to relax quite a bit.

"This is truly a coincidence." Zhao Xu smiled, "But later you..."

"That cannot be said." Xu E smiled with playfulness.

Zhao Xu frowned, "It is precisely because this cannot be said that I have never trusted your Tianxiang Lou, have not trusted you, and have been unable to treat Miss Xu with sincerity."

Xu E's eyes dimmed for a moment, and she forced a smile, "Your Highness only needs to remember that this slave will not harm Your Highness; as for the identity of Tianxiang Lou, at the appropriate time, Your Highness will know."

Then she looked at the bottle in Zhao Xu's hand and asked, propping up her chin: "Your Highness, what is this?"

"Perfume," Zhao Xu said, "I came to find Miss Xu this time because of it."

Xu E showed an intrigued expression, "Perfume, this name is very unique. What is it used for?"

Zhao Xu placed the bottle on the table, also used a feather to dip a little, and sprinkled it on Xu E, "To add fragrance to a Beauty."

A bit of perfume was sprinkled out, and the whole room suddenly became fragrant.

Both Xu E and Huan'er were shocked for a moment.

Then they began to sniff greedily.

Zhao Xu continued, "This thing is meant to be sprinkled on clothes and the body; it is a hundred times better than incense."

Xu E had grown up in Tianxiang Lou since she was a child, so she naturally understood the logic of competing for beauty.

She immediately understood the preciousness of this perfume, and also understood Zhao Xu's meaning.

"Your Highness truly never visits the Three Treasures Hall without a reason." Xu E gave Zhao Xu a resentful look; she was secretly happy that Yan Wang finally thought of her, "Fine, this slave will do this favor for Your Highness, but this 'perfume' is indeed something people love as soon as they see it; Your Highness is about to have money rolling in again."

"Then many thanks, Miss Xu," Zhao Xu said.

Xu E nodded lightly, "If the sisters at Tianxiang Lou like it, this slave will send the perfume to all the Tianxiang Lou branches across Da Song."

"That would be best." Zhao Xu wore a smile.

After sitting for a while longer and chatting with Xu E, Zhao Xu rose to leave; he still had to go to the trading firm.

Leaning against the window, watching Zhao Xu walk toward the trading firm across the Golden Scale Pond, Xu E revealed a faint smile at the corner of her mouth and murmured, "I don't believe I can't warm up this stone."

Xiao Huan shook her head, looking as if Xu E was beyond help.

Just then, a knock on the door suddenly sounded.

Xiao Huan went to open the door, and a group of women walked in, "Sister Xu, what is this scent? It smells so good."

Xu E turned back, remembered the matter Yan Wang had entrusted to her, picked up the bottle on the table, and began to explain to the women.

When she imitated Zhao Xu and sprinkled the perfume from the bottle, it caused a burst of exclamations.

"Sister, give it to me, I want it."

"Why should it be given to you? Sister, give it to me."

"Stop bickering, you all. I have body odor and need this the most. If I sprinkle this on, it can really cover it up, and I can be a real vixen from now on." A woman looked excited.

"Give it to me."

"Give it to me."

"..."

The women's words gradually became heated.

Xu E looked at the women arguing until their faces were red, her eyes full of smiles; she suddenly felt that this matter was a good opportunity for her to get close to Yan Wang.

Yanzhou Trading Firm.

Zhao Xu's arrival immediately attracted the attention of the merchants.

They gathered around one after another and bowed to Zhao Xu.

These days, their lives had not been very easy.

The goods bought at the Prince's Mansion could not be transported south through Fanyang.

If this Wine could not be sold, they would suffer heavy losses.

Fortunately, news came that Shanggu Commandery had now also become the fief of Yan Wang.

This allowed them to bypass Fanyang from Shanggu Commandery.

However, Jinzhou is in a state of chaos, and Sizhou is the territory of the Ma Family, so he is also somewhat worried.

But hearing that Yan Wang and the Ma Family are talking quite happily, he is looking forward to it again.

Now that Yan Wang has come over, they want to get the truth from Yan Wang's mouth.

If the trade route is truly cut off, this business cannot be done no matter how profitable it is.

They have no choice but to painfully leave Yan Commandery.

"Your Highness." Yang Cheng received the news and also came down from upstairs.

He has become much more haggard during this period.

The merchants all came to him to make trouble, especially the merchants acting as agents in the south, demanding that their Silver be refunded.

He can only accompany them with a smiling face all day long, and still has to endure their scolding.

"You have worked hard during this time." Zhao Xu patted Yang Cheng on the shoulder.

With the trade route cut off, the merchants have vented all their tempers on him.

"Compared to those soldiers who died, this bit of grievance is nothing." Yang Cheng's eyes are a bit more resolute than before.

Witnessing this great battle in Yancheng and participating in the memorial service for the dead soldiers has made him more conscious of fulfilling his duties.

Zhao Xu nodded, he looked at the merchants, knowing what they were waiting for.

So he said: "Today, this King will give you a reassurance; Fanyang cannot be taken, but the Ma Family has promised this King that you can take the western trade route, and the Prince's Mansion will work with the Ma Family to maintain this trade route."

Hearing this from Zhao Xu, a stone in the merchants' hearts fell to the ground.

Some merchants even shed tears in excitement.

Their entire net worth is staked on the business of the Prince's Mansion, and now there is finally a way out.

"Thank you, Your Highness, thank you, Your Highness." The merchants said one after another.

Zhao Xu waved his hand, "This matter was ultimately caused by the conflict between this King and the Yuan Family, and you have suffered as innocent bystanders. In this way, the Prince's Mansion has a new type of goods, and to compensate the merchants who suffered losses, this King allows you to take the goods first."

"New goods." The merchants immediately became interested.

Yang Cheng's face showed joy.

The goods in the trading firm were indeed monotonous, and he had been hoping for a supplement.

Zhao Xu then took out the Perfume, which was some portioned out from that bottle.

"This item is called Perfume..." He repeated the explanation he gave to Xu E to the merchants, and let the merchants take it to pass around and use.

These merchants are people who often frequent brothels, and they quickly realized the value of the Perfume.

After using some on themselves, they were even more amazed at the powerful effect of the Perfume.

"Amazing, once this item comes out, it will definitely be earth-shattering."

"It will definitely make women go crazy."

"I didn't expect to get such a benefit out of a misfortune."

"..."

The trading firm was filled with fragrance, and the merchants completely forgot about the annoying things from the previous period, their minds completely occupied by the Perfume.